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Last July 4th, in the Gulf of Taranto, the intense training activity conducted by instructors from the Italian Navy Naval Air Training Centre (MARICENTADD) for the crew of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) Landing Platform Dock (LPD) Al Fulk concluded. The activity, which began on May 5th, represented a crucial step in the Qatari personnel's acquisition of operational capabilities, anticipating the full entry into service of the new amphibious unit, built in Italy at the shipyards of Palermo and Muggiano (La Spezia).

The training programme, conducted both at sea and ashore, aimed to solidify the crew's knowledge and management of the complex shipboard systems. Particular attention was given to operational coordination, procedures, and integration with other Italian Navy naval and air assets. The at-sea activities were complemented by theoretical modules, simulations, and practical exercises.

The MARICENTADD instructor team supported the Al Fulk crew through every phase of their training, transferring not only technical skills but also their methodology and operational approach, fundamental elements for effectively operating a modern amphibious unit.

Training activities included:

• coastal navigation, including in adverse weather conditions;

• naval manoeuvres and navigation in complex scenarios;

• Damage Control, including emergency management, damage containment, firefighting, and rescue of injured personnel;

• Defensive capabilities in anti-air warfare (AAW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW);

• Replenishment At Sea (RAS) procedures, conducted for the first time by the Qatari unit with an Italian supply ship;

• Use of the floodable basin for amphibious operations and helicopter flight operations.
  
  The training activity took place in a climate of collaboration and mutual respect, also evidenced by social events involving the teams. These included a football match played at the Mar Grande Naval Station facilities between the Al Fulk crew and MARICENTADD instructors.
  
  The completion of this training marks a milestone for the QENF, which see Al Fulk as a highly capable and versatile unit destined to strengthen the Emirate's operational capabilities. The unit, approximately 143 metres long, 21.5 metres wide, and capable of accommodating up to 550 people, is equipped with a flight deck sized for hosting NH90 helicopters, vehicle garages, and an internal floodable basin capable of accommodating Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM).
  
  In short, Al Fulk represents a significant step forward in Qatar's naval modernization plan, in close cooperation with the Italian naval industry and the Italian Navy.